Adjustable steering-mast support.



E. GRUBNFELDT. ADJUSTABLE STEERING MASTSUPPORT.

AIPLIOATION FILED NOV. 15, 1907 905,175; Patented Dec. 1, 190,8.

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UNITED sures PATENT. orator.

EMIL GRUENFELDT, OF OLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BAKER MOTOR VEHICLE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ADJUSTABLE STEERING-MAST SU'IPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

Application filed November 15,1907. Serial No. 402,331.

of Cleveland, county of Ouyahoga, and State j of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Im- I provement in Adjustable Steering-Mast Supj ports, of which the following is a specification, the principle 'of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to steering mast supporting devices for motor vehicles and particularly to that class of such devices which is adapted for use in electrically propelled pleasure vehicles in which the steering mast is usually mounted upon the outside of the vehicle-body.

The object of the invention is to provide supporting means for the mast which may be readily adjusted so as to bring the two bearings into perfect alinement.

The said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail, certain mechanism embodying the invention, the disclosed means constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be applied.

In said annexed drawing :-'-Figure I represents a side elevation of the motor vehicle body showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. II represents a cross-sectional view of the motor vehicle frame, upon an enlarged scale, showing the lower and adjustable steerin mast bracket secured thereto, a portion 0 the steering mast being shown in the bearing of such bracket. Fig. III represents a side elevation of thelower and adjustable bracket, on the same scale as it is illustrated in Fig. II. V

The upper portion of the steering mast A is mounted in a bracket B of the usual construction in which a vertical bearing is formed for allowing the mast to turn therein.

This bracket is secured to the body, usually immediately below the seat and projects laterally of the body a suitable distance. The lower end of the mast is mounted in the lower bracket 0, Figs. II and III. This bracket consists of two main members 0 and 0, member a beingprovided with an 1 angle member 0 which is adapted to fit upon a and be secured, by means of suitable rivets or bolts, to the frame D of the vehicle. This member 0 projects'downwardly and laterally so as to bring the member 0 substantially beneath the bottom plane of the bracket B. The said member 0 is bifurcated, as shown, and these bifurcations are provided with horizontally alined and elongated slots 0 The member 0' is formed with two lateral bosses 0* c which are formed with horizontally threaded bores c 0 These bosses fitbetween the bifurcations and machinescrews 0 0 pass through the slots and are screwed into the threaded bores 0 0 as shown. The member 0 is further formed with a vertical smooth bore forming the bearing for the steering mast, and a collar a is secured to the mast and rests upon the member 0. This collar prevents the mast from droppin throu h the bearings, as will be readily un erstoo i In order to obtain the proper alinement of the hearings in the bracket B and in the member C, the screws 0 c are loosened and member 0 moved laterally so as to change the position of the screws in the slots 0 until the axial line of the bearing in bracket B passes through the center of the bearing in member 0'. The latter is then oscillated until the axial line of its bearing coincides with that ofthe bearing in bracket B. The above method of adjustment is best carried out by passing the steering mast down throughthe bracket B until its lower extremity is adjacent to the member 0' of the lower bracket. This member is then oscillated and adjusted laterally until the lower extremity of the mast may be passed into and through the bearing. This. operation having been completed the screws are then turned to fix the member 0 in the position thus obtained.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed, instead of the one explained, and change may be made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means covered by any one of the following claims be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with an upper steering-mast bracket, of a lower bracket comprising a member fixed to the vehicle frame, and a member forming a bearing for the mast, such latter member being adjustable upon an axis substantially parallel with the plane of said frame and being further adjustable in a plane substantially parallel With such frame-plane.

2. A steering mast bracket for motor vehicles comprising a member adapted to be fixed to the vehicle, a member mounted pivotally in the first mentioned member and adjustable in a lateral direction, and means for fixing such pivotally mounted member upon its axis.

3. A steering-mast bracket comprising a member adapted to be fixed to the vehicle frame and formed with a slotted portion, a member forming a bearing for the mast, and pivotal means upon which said bearing member is mounted, said latter means being adjustably securable in said slotted portion of the fixed member.

4. A steering-mast bracket comprising a member adapted to be fixed to the velncle frame and formed with two slotted bifurcations. a member forming a bearing for the mast, and two axially alincd screws passing through the slots in said bifurcations and having screw-threaded engagement with said bearing member.

S7igned by me, this 12th day of November,

WM. RO'rI-IENBERG, LENA A. DIRLAM. 

